The IACP and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office convened a use-of-force symposium that brought together law enforcement professionals, use-of-force experts, and use-of-force researchers. The resulting report, Emerging Use of Force Issues: Balancing Public and Officer Safety, provides suggested actions that can be taken at both the national and local levels to address these issues.

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The use of force by law enforcement officers has continuously been a controversial topic, often resulting in false perceptions by the public, particularly the concern that police use force at a relatively high level. Statistical research shows just the opposite: Police use force with constant and careful discretion. In 2008, the Bureau of Justice Statistics completed a study that found that of the 40 million persons who had contact with police, only 1.9 percent of the respondents reported the use or the threat of force at least once during these contacts. Unfortunately, media depictions continue to create the perception that use or threat of force by the police is greater than it actually is. The IACP/COPS report addresses this concern and other significant force policy issues, including the following:

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Current use-of-force issues and concerns of law enforcement leaders

Use-of-force policy and training advancement over the past five years

Recent use-of-force incidents or issues that have affected law
enforcement approach

Use-of-force litigation and risk management from a local agency
perspective

New and emerging research on use of force at the university and law
enforcement levels

Concerns about use of force that merit further exploration and
investigation

In 2008, the Bureau of Justice Statistics completed a study that found that of the 40 million persons who had contact with police, only 1.9 percent of the respondents reported the use or the threat of force at least once during these contacts.